Charging device for blast furnaces



April 21, 1925. 1,534,028

J. K. CLUTTS CHARGING DEVICE FOR BLAST FURNACES Filed Sept. 25, 1922 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Snow tea Josmm. Kim;

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v J.K.CLUTTS CHARGING DEVICE FOR BLAST FURNACES Filed Sept. 25, 1922 2Sheets-Sheet 1 #11 ig 1 F9 i $11 uewtoz M JWWW X Patented Apr. 21, 1925UNITED STATES r 1,534,028 PATENT OFFICE.

JOSHUA x CLUTTS, or nn'rno-"rr, MICHIGAN.

CHARGING- DEVICE FOR BLA S T FURNACES.

Application filed September 25, 1922. Serial No .'590,496.

'ing Devices for Blast Furnaces, of which the following is aspecification, reference be.

ing-had therein to the accompanying drawmgs.

This invention relatesto charging devices for blast furnaces. It is theobject of the invention to provide for delivery to a blast furnace ofcharges of hot ores which have been subjected to a preliminary reductionin a rotary kiln and to weigh e ach charge accurately as it isdelivered.

A further objectof the invention is to provide power actuated means fordelivering a known weight of ore from a rotary kiln to a blast furnaceand to automatically control in unison with said means a top closure forthe blast furnace and a closure for the inlet to the weighingreceptacle.

In the drawings Figure lis a view in side elevation of the improvedcharging means sectionally showing the upper portion of a blast furnace;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same;

Figures 3 and 4 are sectional details of a loose connection between thecharging device and its actuating means;

Figure 5 is a vertical cross section view of the chargin box, showingthe closure for the chute w ich delivers ore to said box in its positioncutting off the flow of ore.

In said views the reference character A designates a blast furnaceprovided with a sliding cover B which, to reduce the friction incidentto its closing and opening .movements is preferably mounted upon wheelsC traveling upon a track D. E is a rotary kiln which subjects the oredeliveredto said furnace to a preliminary reduction process. Said kilnis mounted at a gradual inclination, its lower extremity extendlngadjacent the top of the furnace; and a nonrotative section E beingprovided at said extremity. Engagement between the rotating andstationary portions of the kllll 1s maintained in any suitable manner,as for example by forming one of said portions with an annular flange Gwhich is enga d by a return-bent flange F upon the ot er portion. H is acharging box, preferably rectangular, towhich box a discharge chute I isdownwardly extended from the stationary kiln member. Said box is mountedupon the platform J of a weighin scale, the beam of which is indicatedat Into saidbox there is axially extended the front portion L of aplunger rod L, L, the rear portion L of which enters an air cylinder Mand is attached to a piston N reciprocatory in said cylinder.Reciprocation of said plunger and rod is adapted to be effected by analternate introduction of air into the respective extremities of saidcylinder connected to the closure B of the blast furnace that the twowill move in unison when power is applied. Thus when the plunger isprojected, the heads R and R and the closure B occupy the position shownin dash line in F i re 1, the closure being shifted clear of the furnaceduring the projecting movement and the two plunger heads being movedinto proximity with opposite sides of the furnace mouth so that thecharge of ore which is discharged from the box H during the projectingmovement is delivered into the mouth of the furnace. To'prevent entranceof ore to the charging box rearward ofthe plunger head B, there issecured to the latter a closure member S which is brought beneath thechute I as the plunger heads travel forwardly, preventing any downflowof ore until said plunger head has been retracted beyond the outlet ofsaid chute. attaching the closure S to the rod L, L.

To permit the scale platform J to register the weight of the box H andits contents without error due to the actuating connection establishedthrough the plunger rod L, L to the air motor M it is preferred toemploy a loose connection between the parts L and L of said rod. Thus,as is best seen in Figures 3 and 4, heads U and U are mounted upon therod members L and L respectively and interlock as shown in Fig- Sindicates a reinforcing bracket is maintained during charging andweighing of the box H so that the section L may undergo the necessaryslight vertical movement ing weighing.

with respect to the section L occuring dur- A pin and slot connection Wfrom the forward plunger head R toand an arm W" upon the cover B alsopermits the necessary slight vertical movement of the charging box withrespect to said cover.

The described device by delivering known weights of ore to the furnacepermits accurate control of proportion and secures a high grade of iron.

The discharge chute I may be provided with a lateral outlet normallyclosed, as indicated at W said outlet being uncovered in case for anyreason it is necessary to discontinue charging the furnace temporarily.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a charging device, the combinationwith a blast furnace, of a closure therefor,

a container for a quantity of ore, means for weighing said container andits contents, and a. common means for shifting said closure to openposition and for delivering the contents of said container into theblast furnace.

2. In a charging device, the combination with a blast furnace having aninlet atits top, of a charging box adjacent said inlet, means forweighing said box and its contents, a pair of. connected plungersoccupying the respective ends of said box in a retracted position, andmeans for projecting said plungers for substantially registering thesame with the furnace inlet.

3. In a charging device, the combination with a blast furnace, of asliding closure therefor, a charging box adjacent said closure, and aplunger operable in said charging box and connected to said closurewhereby ejection of the contents of the charging ,box into the blastfurnace and opening of said closure is accomplished in one operation.

4. In a charging device, the combination a member reciprocatory in saidbox for discharging measured quantities of material therefrom, saidchute having a lateral open-- ing providing for the discharge ofmaterial when the box is temporarily out of use, and a closureadjustable to control said opening.

6. In-a charging device, the combination with a char ing box having itstop provided with an' in et for material, a member reciprocatory in saidbox for dischar ing measured quantities of the material, a wei hingplatform carrying said box, actuating means for said plunger, and aconnection between said means and plunger providing for verticalmovement of the latter relative to the former incidentto functioning ofthe weighing platform.

7. In a charging device, the combination with a blast furnace having itstop provided with a sliding closure, of a chargin box for said furnace,said box havin an in ct there- .to for the charging materia a memberreciprocatory in said box for effecting a measured discharge of materialtherefrom into said furnace, an actuating means for said reciprocatorymember moun independently of the weighing platform, an actuatingconnection between said means and reciprocatory member providing for arelative vertical movement of the latter relative to the former incidentto the operation of said weighing platform, and a connection'betweensaid reciprocatory member and the closure of the furnace forreciprocating the latter in unison with the former, said connectionproviding for a limited vertical movement of said member relative to theclosure incident to operation of the weighing platform.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

